This instructional article appears in the "Classroom"
section of the October issue of Lacrosse Magazine, a US
Lacrosse publication available exclusively to its members.
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by Matt DaSilva, Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff

What do you get when you put five All-Americans together and ask
them about shooting space? An argument, of course.

It's the most-hotly debated rule in all of women's lacrosse -- one
that is sometimes unevenly applied. Can an attacker behind the cage
bait a defender into shooting space in front of it? Katie Chrest,
Mary Key and Kelly Coppedge say yes; Michi Ellers and Lindsey Biles
say no.

"This is what's wrong with women's lacrosse," says Chrest, the
2005 Tewaaraton Trophy winner at Duke and U.S. Elite team
member.

The 2008 US Lacrosse women's rules book defines obstruction of
free space to goal as when a player "with any part of her body
guards the goal outside the goal circle so as to obstruct the free
space to goal, between the ball and the goal circle, which denies
the attack the opportunity to shoot safely and encourages shooting
at a player."

For confirmation in this instance, Ellers, another Team USA member
and Georgetown University assistant coach, calls head coach Ricki
Fried. Verdict: yes and no.

Free
space to goal, as defined by the 2008 US Lacrosse women's rules
book.

According to the women's rules book, obstruction of free space
to goal "applies only if initiated by the defender and not if she
is drawn into free space...by an attacking player." However, Fried
said, hesitate for a second in front of the cage, and you're
cooked.

Keep in mind:

&#149; A shooting space violation can only occur in the
attacking team's critical scoring area -- approximately 15 meters
in front of the goal circle, to 9 meters behind goal line extended
and each side of the goal circle.

&#149; The ball carrier must be a threat to shoot and show
intent.

&#149; Players positioned behind goal line extended will not
be penalized.

&#149; If you are within stick's length of an attacker
off-ball, but in the shooting lane, you are not in violation.
(Rather, if the ball carrier shoots, it will be considered a
dangerous shot.)

First, for a frame of reference, draw an imaginary 45-degree angle
from the point of the ball ending on two points of the goal circle.
This is the free space to goal that you cannot obstruct with your
body. Do so, and it's a major foul, with a direct free position
awarded to the ball carrier.

In
this sequence, Michi Ellers (in white) avoids a shooting space
violation by sliding on an angle with her stick and squaring up
with her body only once she is within stick's length of Mary Key.
Now, Ellers and Lindsey Biles are in position to drive Key outside
of 8 meters with an effective double-team.
(Photo: John Strohsacker)

There are ways to defend off-ball, however, without violating
shooting space. If your mark is behind the cage or adjacent to the
ball, and your teammate gets beat, make your slide on an angle and
keep your stick in the lane. Lead with your stick, not with your
body. Once you are within a stick's length, you may close off the
shooting lane with your body as your teammate recovers.

Same thing goes for double-teaming. You cannot advance through
shooting space, but play your angles right, and your opponent could
be in for trouble once you and your teammate are both within a
stick's length.

If your opponent is double- or triple-teamed with no opportunity
to shoot to goal, there is no foul. Defenders who are double- or
triple-teaming a player without the ball and are within stick's
length are also exempt.